And that’s when it hits me.
He’s still holding me.
I’m still letting him.
It seems Jack picks up on the same thing at the same time, his lips parting in surprise as his eyes rake across my face. This close, it’s easy to see the slight spray of freckles across the bridge of his nose, easy to notice the little scar in his eyebrow that I’ve never clocked before. I wonder how he got it?
I watch his throat work with a swallow, and then he’s carefully hoisting me back onto my feet, his hands sliding under my elbows to hold me steady as I get my bearings.
“We have got to stop meeting like this,” he says finally, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“At least you’re not half-naked this time,” I mumble.
He smirks. “Does that make it better or worse, would we say?”
“Better,” I say with a huff. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Someone has to,” he says with a beleaguered sigh. He holds out his hand. “Ice cream, please.”
I hold it out to him, keeping the silly key chain tucked into my other palm. Jack notices, looking a little flustered again.
“You really don’t have to keep it,” he mutters.
Now it’s my turn to smirk. “Are you trying to take my present back?”
At my teasing tone, he looks a little more relaxed.
“I knew you wanted it.”
I eye the ugly little creature with a snicker. “I guess it’s a good reminder to smile more.”
“I like it when you smile,” Jack says, looking immediately taken aback, like he didn’t mean to say it out loud. “I mean—I just meant—”
Oh God. Is Jack actually kind of…adorable?
This is not good for my health.
“I’ll try to be alittleless grumpy,” I tell him, saving him from his own embarrassment.
He looks relieved, taking another bite of ice cream. “I’m just thinking of your health.”
“Truly, the best friend a girl could ask for.”
He juts his spoon out toward me. “I knew those BFF nachos would do the job.”
“The ice cream helps.”
“So I just keep feeding you until we’re besties,” he says. “Good to know.”
And with that, he digs a giant bite of ice cream out of the tub, holding it out to me.
I know I should refuse it, if for no other reason than it feels way more boyfriend-y and less friendly, but the way he’s smiling at me…I find myself leaning in before I can stop myself, taking the offered bite.
Something flashes in Jack’s eyes when my lips close over the spoon, there and gone so quickly one might almost miss it.
But I don’t.
And suddenly this entire exchange feelsfartoo intimate.
